Re: WISCONSIN Hockey Vol. 22 - Let's not have another cheesy thread title... Wait, W
Yeah! More excuses for below expectation performance!
I don't care how aggressive you run the 1-1-3 forecheck, success is absolutely dictated by the ability to gain and maintain puck possession when confronted by superior numbers by the defense on a regular basis. When it works it should result in better scoring chances, but when you don't maintain pick possession, the other team will get a very easy clear particular against the 3rd and 4th lines.
Funny that you should bring this up as one of Wisconsin's better lines all weekend was their so called "fourth line" of Ryan Little-Dahl-Sean Little. Believe it or not, that line sustained more pressure in the offensive zone than any other unit in the Badger lineup all weekend. Now, that group certainly doesn't have the talent level of some of the other groups so they weren't rewarded with any points this weekend for their efforts, but they were able to create offense for large stretches of time in both games.
Overall I think it's going to take some time for the offense to be consistent. I guess it is an excuse saying that Wisconsin was without two top six forwards, but well, they kind of were. I projected Kerdiles to be about a 25 point guy this year and with Lee on the power-play, probably a 30-35 point guy. I'm sorry, but the two guys who are in the lineup because of them being out (Sean Little and Matt Paape) can't make up for that, even though I like what those two bring to the table.
It's certainly not going to be Wisconsin's highest scoring team of all time, but there have been period this season where Wisconsin has absolutely dominated the offensive zone with this new forchecking system. I'd especially look back to the first periods of both games vs Northern Michigan.
Wisconsin has yet to put together a full game, but when they do, look out.
